CBIA BizCast: Tourism, Energy Bill Advances

Connecticut lawmakers continue to grapple with affordability challenges facing small businesses—and energy costs are a major focus this legislative session.

In this episode of the CBIA BizCast, host Amanda Marlow highlights legislation aimed at reducing energy costs, along with key business and policy developments from across the state.

Small business owners, lawmakers, and business organizations are calling attention to Senate Bill 2—a democrat priority bill that supports local tourism and cut the state sales tax on energy for many small businesses. 

The bill passed out of the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee on a bipartisan vote.

The episode also features a portion of a conversation between some of Connecticut’s top women in healthcare from CBIA’s When Women Lead conference, which brought nearly 800 attendees to Hartford last month.

Episode Highlights—SB 2

• CBIA vice president of public policy Chris Davis breaks down the sales tax exemption on energy
• CBIA senior policy director Pete Myers testimony before the Finance Committee
• Business leaders, lawmakers, business owners, and advocates speak at a news conference in support of SB 2’s tourism provision. Speakers include:
  • Bruce Becker, Hotel Marcel
  • First Selectman Carl Fortuna, Old Saybrook
  • Aubrey LaMonica, Eli Cannon’s and Tate’s restaurants
  • Sen. Cathy Osten, (D-Baltic)
  • Scott Dolch, Connecticut Restaurant and Hospitality Association
  • Rep. David Rutigliano, (R-Trumbull)
  • Mayor Shari Cantor, (D-West Hartford)
  • Joe DeLong, Connecticut Conference of Municipalities
  • Rep. Farley Santos (D-Danbury)

Headlines You May Have Missed

• Small Business Awards: West Hartford-based Derek Ezovski, president of Outsourced Risk Management Solutions, has been named Connecticut’s 2026 Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
• Electric Boat Expansion: General Dynamics Electric Boat plans to hire 8,000 workers across Connecticut and Rhode Island as part of historic growth and investment.
• Trade Impacts: New federal data show exports grew just 1.9% in 2025, while imports surged ahead of newly imposed tariffs.

Episode Highlights—When Women Lead

• Resilience and navigating challenges
• Advocating for women in the healthcare industry
• Advice for women in leadership

---

The CBIA BizCast is made possible through the generous support of Google. Subscribe to the BizCast wherever you get your podcasts. Please rate the podcast and leave us a review—we appreciate your support! And be sure to give us your feedback and share guests you’d like to hear from by emailing [email protected].